Kansas City, Missouri – Following funeral services for Firefighter Paramedic Graham Hoffman, plans for a large-scale streetcar emergency drill in Kansas City have been moved to Friday, May 9, 2025. Originally scheduled for early May, the exercise will take place at the upcoming Plaza Streetcar Station on Main Street and West 47th Street to evaluate response procedures as the City’s streetcar network expands.
Though crews and participants will start arriving as early as 7:00 AM to set equipment and secure the scene, the two-hour simulation is set to start at 10:00 AM. Main Street between West 47th Street and Ward Parkway will be blocked to traffic by 9:00 AM; detours will be set. Until roughly 1:00 PM, signage and staff will direct pedestrians and cars around the drill site.
Kansas City Public Works organizers worked with local transit and safety allies to create a realistic scenario. A mock collision involving a streetcar will push teams to organize triage, extrication, and mass evacuation at the core of the exercise. While dispatchers and on-scene commanders hone smooth communication across jurisdictions, volunteer “passengers” will role-play injuries.
This exercise gives everyone a chance to sharpen the skills before the streetcar goes live. The aim is to make sure every agency knows its role in a high-stakes scenario and that we can quickly and safely transport personnel.
Among the main participants are the Kansas City Fire Department, which will supervise medical response; the Kansas City Police Department, in charge of scene security and traffic management; and Herzog Transit Services, Inc., providing streetcar expertise. Planning and assessment will also be significantly influenced by the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, Benesch engineering consultants, and K&J Safety and Security Consulting Services. RAPT Readiness Media will record the event, capturing lessons learned for future training sessions.
The drill is open to members of the press and interested observers. Event coverage seekers should sign up via the City’s online form; information on parking and meeting locations will be emailed to verified participants. For a mandatory safety briefing before the exercise starts, all observers and journalists have to arrive by 9:30 AM.
Officials underlined that readiness comes first as Kansas City extends its streetcar line down the Main Street area. Leaders want to confirm multi-agency coordination, communication, and fast medical intervention protocols in case of a streetcar accident through the use of this full-scale exercise. The May 9 exercise is a proactive move toward a safe and dependable expansion of transit for the community.
